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20 July 2011

Apple announced its Q3 2011 results yesterday, and as we all are quite used to by now, folks at Cupertino just dished out another blow out quarter. Basic upshot - Highest quarterly revenue and profits ever. Record iPhone and iPad sales and highest non-holiday quarter Mac sales ever.

Overall highlights

$28.57 billion in revenue (+82% Y-o-Y) with $7.79 billion profit(+120%). That's up from second quarter's $25 billion in revenue and $6 billion in profit respectively.

13 July 2011

Darwin's theory of evolution has always intrigued me. I remember when I first read it in high-school, it looked so intuitive and obvious that I questioned the need of even spelling it out. Little did I know then of the prodigious implications of that simple hypothesis.

Recently while watching a TED video, I came across this fascinating story of Darwin's orchid and the moth which presents a intriguing insight into how nature has uniquely evolved over the years.

So the picture on the left is of Angraecum sesquipedale, commonly known as the Darwin's orchid. When Darwin first saw this flower, he was surprised by one defining characteristic of this species - the astonishing length of the whip-like green spur containing the nectar in each flower.

From his observations, Darwin surmised in 1862 that in order for this flower to pollinate and survive, there must be a pollinator insect with a proboscis (tubular nectar sucking organ of insects) long enough to reach the nectar at the end of the spur.

Obviously the the notion of a pollinator with a 35 cm long proboscis was ridiculed and generally not believed to exist for the longest time. Though all of this was about to change 41 years later.

08 July 2011

An interesting topic in trending on Twitter right now - #againstindianculture. Now topics like these are ideal bait for my sarcastic jabs, so without any further adieu, here are my top 20 things which are simply against Indian culture. (Includes some of the best from fellow Twitter mates)

Lane driving

Not parking at places marked as 'No Parking'

Buying original software or content (songs, movies etc.)

Covering up roads after digging up

Government authorities completing projects on time (Delhi Metro #respect)

Standing in lines for taking a bus/train

Throwing trash in dustbins at public places

Not-crying kids, well...at all places

Wiping your Dog's poop from the pavement

Getting official work done in a single visit (think passport, driving license)

01 July 2011

Is the precious little invite of Google's latest Plus social network (Google+) still evading you? Worry not, just drop in your email in the comments below and I'll see what I can do - I have a some 500 odd free invites lying here. And till the time you get your pass, enjoy some videos from Google on what this stuff is that you want in on so badly.